Lok Sabha Elections Phase 7: Voters line up in final phase of elections amid heatwave

Indian voters in 57 Lok Sabha constituencies across seven states and one Union Territoryheaded to polls to cast their votes in the seventh and final phase of the world’s largest election, on Saturday (Jun 1) amid a heatwave which has caused several deaths.

Voting is underway in seven states Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and the UT of Chandigarh. The results of this general election will be announced on Tuesday (Jun 4).

As of 11:00 am (local time), the total voter turnout, according to the data by the Election Commission of India (ECI), was 26.3 per cent.

Lok Sabha Elections Phase 7: Voting underway

The voting in the final phase of the Indian general elections began at 7:00 am (local time) and will end at 6:00 pm.

Here’s the voter turnout as of 11:00 am:

Bihar: 24.25%
Chandigarh: 25.03%
Himachal Pradesh: 31.92%
Jharkhand: 29.55%
Odisha: 22.64%
Punjab: 23.91%
Uttar Pradesh: 28.02%
West Bengal: 28.10%

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is eyeing a third term is among the more than 900 candidates that the voters will choose from in the seventh phase. The Indian PM is contesting for the seat in the Indian city of Varanasi, UP, against Congress member Ajay Rai.

In this phase, the voters will choose from 904 candidates – Punjab (328), UP (144), Bihar (134), Odisha (66), Jharkhand (52), Himachal Pradesh (37), and Chandigarh (four).

Deadly heatwave

At least 33 people, including election workers, died of suspected heat stroke in the Indian states of Bihar, UP, and Odisha, on Friday (May 31), according to local officials.

WATCH |India heatwave: Poll personnel dead

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted heatwave conditions in 10 states – Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha – for today.

According to the IMD, temperatures in northwestern and central India are expected to fall in the coming days but the heatwave over the eastern part of the country will continue for at least two more days.

At least 18 polling staff deployed for the final phase have died of suspected heat-related conditions. According to reports, 10 election personnel in Bihar and eight in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh died and the reason for their deaths is being ascertained.

In a statement, the Mirzapur district administration said that three people from the polling party deployed were taken to the hospital after their health suddenly deteriorated and that they died while undergoing treatment.

Mirzapur Superintendent of Police also reported the death of five guards while they were undergoing treatment after their health suddenly deteriorated.

“They had high grade fever when they were brought in. It could be because of heatstroke as well. We are currently treating at least 23 people brought in from election duty,” RB Kamal, principal of Mirzapur (Divisional) Medical College and Hospital where the personnel are being treated, told reporters.

In the state of Bihar, 10 polling staff were among 14 people who died of heat-related issues in the past 24 hours.

(With inputs from agencies)